Involuntary Commitment of the Mentally Ill: Some Moral Issues

Abstract

In considering some of the distinctly moral issues raised by the treatment of the mentally ill, perhaps the most striking fact is the frequency with which coercion in one form or another is used on the patient and treatment is as a result involuntary. In this article I shall discuss several of the moral issues that this use of coercion creates, with particular emphasis on the justification of involuntary civil commitment. My aim will be to outline some of the underlying moral principles and distinctions on the basis of which such issues can be profitably discussed and clarified. Since involuntary commitment of the mentally ill has frequently come under attack, I will be particularly interested in whether certain of the common arguments against it are sound. Although laws governing civil commitment provide an obvious point of departure for much discussion in this area, I will be concerned here with the moral positions that ought to form the basis of legal policy. decision regarding involuntary commitment of persons believed mentally ill are commonly agonizing and troubling, with deep emotional involvement, conflicts, and impacts on all those a party to them. Because of the highly charged atmosphere in which these decisions must often be made, it is all the more important that the relevant moral issues and principles be clearly delineated.